The evolution of the Sinian–Early Cambrian E’xi Trough in the Central Yangtze region and its geological significance for natural gas

CHEN Ke; LU Yanxin; WANG Yuluo; LI Fei

doi:10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025048

Volume 32 Issue 2

Apr. 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Journal of Geomechanics > 2026 > 32(2): 1-17

CHEN K，LU Y X，WANG Y L，et al.，2026. The evolution of the Sinian–Early Cambrian E’xi Trough in the Central Yangtze region and its geological significance for natural gas[J]. Journal of Geomechanics，32（2）：1−17 doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025048

Citation:

PDF( 4934 KB)

The evolution of the Sinian–Early Cambrian E’xi Trough in the Central Yangtze region and its geological significance for natural gas

doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025048

CHEN Ke^{1, 2
,},
LU Yanxin^{1, 2
,
,},
WANG Yuluo^{1, 2},
LI Fei^{1, 2
,}

1.
Oil and Gas Resources Survey Center of the China Geological Survey, Beijing 100083, China
2.
State Key Laboratory of Continental Shale Oil, Beijing 100083, China

Funds: This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U2344213).

More Information

Received: 2025-03-28
Revised: 2025-09-04
Accepted: 2026-09-04

Available Online: 2026-03-31

Published: 2026-04-28

Abstract

Abstract

Objective From the Neoproterozoic Sinian to the Early Cambrian periods, extensive basins in South China accumulated substantial volumes of organic-rich shale and carbonate rocks, providing high-quality source rocks and reservoirs. These basins constitute key targets for petroleum exploration. The Central Yangtze Region hosts the Sinian–Early Cambrian E’Xi trough, whose formation and evolutionary processes require further investigation. Methods Comprehensive analyses integrating drilling data, outcrop sections, and seismic profiles reveal the evolution history of this north-south-trending trough. Results Research indicates four distinct developmental stages: (1) During the deposition of the Nantuo Formation, an initial subsidence center emerged in western Hubei with limited tillite thickness; (2) The Doushantuo Formation developed in a half-graben basin system, coinciding with the post-Snowball Earth warming and humidification, which fostered syn-depositional faulting along the eastern trough margin; (3) The deposition of the Dengying Formation was characterized by carbonate platform with the establishment of a "two-platform, one-basin" architecture across the Central–Upper Yangtze region and the development of a complete graben basin in western Hubei; (4) The Niutitang Formation, dominated by clastic sediments, exhibits thickness complementarity with the underlying Dengying dolomites, marking trough filling and termination. Conclusions Members II and IV of Doushantuo Formation, together with Member II of the Niutitang Formation, host organic-rich shales, which constitute the primary targets for shale gas exploration. Conventional hydrocarbon systems display a "sandwich-style" accumulation model comprising Doushantuo source rocks, Dengying reservoirs, and Niutitang seal/source couples. Multiphase tectonic activities have disrupted some oil and gas closed systems, while excessive burial depths locally induced overmatured organic matter. Therefore, the key to shale gas exploration is identifying tectonically stable areas with moderate maturity levels, while the strategic focus for conventional natural gas exploration is prioritizing regions characterized by effective hydrocarbon accumulation and favorable preservation conditions.
- E’xi trough,
- Sinian–Early Cambrian,
- basin evolution,
- shale gas,
- natural gas exploration

Full-text Translaiton by iFLYTEK

The full translation of the current issue may be delayed. If you encounter a 404 page, please try again later.

FullText(HTML)

References(57)

References

[1]	CHEN D Z, ZHOU X Q, FU Y, et al., 2015. New U–Pb zircon ages of the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary strata in South China[J]. Terra Nova, 27(1): 62-68. doi: 10.1111/ter.12134
[2]	CHEN K, ZHAI G Y, BAO S J, et al., 2020. Tectonic evolution of the Huangling uplift and its control effect on shale gas preservation in South China[J]. Geology in China, 47(1): 161-172. (in Chinese with English abstract) doi: 10.31035/cg2020025
[3]	CHEN K, LU Y X, LI F, et al., 2024. Sedimentary characteristics of Doushantuo Formation in middle-upper Yangtze region and its significance for oil and gas geology[J]. Geological Survey of China, 11(5): 92-103. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[4]	CHEN K, WANG Y L, LU Y X, et al., 2025. Sedimentary characteristics of the Lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation in the E’Xi trough and its petroleum geological significance[J]. Journal of Geomechanics, 31(4): 604-616. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[5]	CONDON D, ZHU M Y, BOWRING S, et al., 2005. U-Pb ages from the neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation, China[J]. Science, 308(5718): 95-98. doi: 10.1126/science.1107765
[6]	DING Y, LIU S G, WEN L, et al., 2025. Strata missing of the Ediacaran upper Dengying Formation at the northeastern Mianyang-Changning intracratonic sag, and tectonic implications[J]. Acta Geologica Sinica, 99(2): 352-364. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[7]	DUAN J B, MEI Q H, LI B S, et al., 2019. Sinian-Early Cambrian tectonic-sedimentary evolution in Sichuan Basin[J]. Earth Science, 44(3): 738-755. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[8]	GUO L, ZHONG Y J, ZHANG S P, et al., 2024. Structural-sedimentary filling processes and resource implications of intracratonic rift: example from Middle-Upper Yangtze transition zone[J]. Acta Sedimentologica Sinica, 42(6): 2119-2134. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[9]	HU J, 2021. Sedimentary characteristics, paleogeography and paleomarine environment of the Neoproterozoic Nantuo Formation in Shennongjia area (South China)[D]. Wuhan: China University of Geosciences. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[10]	HU J, SUN S Y, GU H D, et al., 2021. Subglacial sedimentary characteristics of the bottom of Nantuo Formation in three gorges area and its implications[J]. Earth Science, 46(7): 2515-2528. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[11]	LI W Z, ZHANG J Y, LI H H, et al., 2020. Distribution characteristics of intracratonic rift and its exploration significance in western Hubei and eastern Chongqing area[J]. Natural Gas Geoscience, 31(5): 675-685. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[12]	LI Z Q, LIU J, LI Y, et al., 2015. Formation and evolution of Weiyuan-Anyue extension-erosion groove in Sinian System, Sichuan Basin[J]. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 42(1): 26-33. (in Chinese with English abstract) doi: 10.1016/s1876-3804(15)60003-9
[13]	LUO S Y, MIAO F B, ZHANG B M, et al., 2024. Characteristics of deep marine carbonate reservoirs in platform margin of the Dengying Formation, Yichang area[J]. Geological Review, 70(S1): 293-296. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[14]	MERDITH A S, WILLIAMS S E, COLLINS A S et al., 2021. Extending full-plate tectonic models into deep time: linking the Neoproterozoic and the Phanerozoic[J]. Earth-Science Reviews, 214: 103477. doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103477
[15]	OUYANG Q, ZHOU C M, XIAO S H et al., 2021. Distribution of Ediacaran acanthomorphic acritarchs in the lower Doushantuo Formation of the Yangtze Gorges area, South China: evolutionary and stratigraphic implications[J]. Precambrian Research, 353: 106005. doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2020.106005
[16]	QI K N, KUANG H W, LIU Y Q, et al., 2024. Sedimentary characteristics of the Cryogenian Nantuo Formation and stratigraphic attribution of red beds in central Yunnan, southwestern margin of Yangtze Craton[J]. Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition), 26(6): 1305-1324. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[17]	SHAN C A, ZHANG Y S, GUO J J, et al. , 2015, Geological characteristics and resource potential of the Upper Sinian Doushantuo Formation shale gas in the north of middle Yangtze region[J]. Geology in China, 42(6): 1944-1958. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[18]	The Three Gorges Stratigraphic Research Group of Hubei Provincial Bureau of Geology, 1978. Paleontology of Sinian to Permian strata in the eastern Xiadong Region[M]. Beijing: Geological Publishing House. (in Chinese)
[19]	WANG C S, LI X B, BAI Y S, et al., 2011. The classification and correlation of Sinian sequence stratigraphy on the slope zone in northwestern Hunan Province[J]. Geological Bulletin of China, 30(10): 1538-1546. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[20]	WANG H Y, SHI Z S, ZHAO Q et al., 2025. Stratigraphic characteristics and shale gas enrichment interval distribution of the Lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation, Upper Yangtze region, China[J]. Coal Geology & Exploration, 53(03): 72-89. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[21]	WANG J, 2000. Neoproterozoic rifting history of South China: significance to Rodinia breakup[M]. Beijing: Geological Publishing House: 146. (in Chinese)
[22]	WANG J, CUI X Z, WANG W, et al., 2024. Evolution of the South China paleocontinent and related resource-environmental developments: from Columbia to Gondwana[J]. Acta Sedimentologica Sinica, 42(6): 1849-1875. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[23]	WANG L J, LIN S F, XIAO W J, 2023. Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks of South China: their separate positions in Gondwana until early Paleozoic juxtaposition[J]. Geology, 51(8): 723-727.
[24]	WANG Z C, JIANG H, WANG T S, et al., 2014. Paleo-geomorphology formed during Tongwan tectonization in Sichuan Basin and its significance for hydrocarbon accumulation[J]. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 41(3): 305-312. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[25]	WANG Z C, LIU J J, JIANG H, et al., 2019. Lithofacies paleogeography and exploration significance of Sinian Doushantuo depositional stage in the middle-upper Yangtze region, Sichuan Basin, SW China[J]. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 46(1): 39-51. (in Chinese with English abstract) doi: 10.1016/s1876-3804(19)30004-7
[26]	WANG Z C, JIANG H, CHEN Z Y, et al., 2020. Tectonic paleogeography of Late Sinian and its significances for petroleum exploration in the middle-upper Yangtze region, South China[J]. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 47(5): 884-897. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[27]	WANG Z Q, GAO L Z, YIN C Y, 2001. Ascertainment and stratigraphic division of the Sinian Stratotype section[J]. Geological Review, 47(5): 449-458. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[28]	YANG R Q, YANG F L, ZHOU X F, et al., 2019. Paleogeographic Evolution of the Dengying Formation in Hannan-Northeastern Sichuan Basin: Sedimentary evidence of the extensional tectonic setting for the northwest margin of the Yangtze Block in the Late Sinian[J]. Acta Sedimentologica Sinica, 37(1): 189-199. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[29]	ZHAO W Z, WEI G Q, YANG W, et al., 2017. Discovery of Wanyuan-Dazhou intracratonic rift and its exploration significance in the Sichuan Basin, SW China[J]. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 44(5): 659-669. (in Chinese with English abstract) doi: 10.1016/s1876-3804(17)30081-2
[30]	ZHOU C M, OUYANG Q, WANG W, et al., 2021. Lithostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of the Ediacaran in China[J]. Journal of Stratigraphy, 45(3): 211-222. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[31]	ZHOU Y, CHEN H D, WANG C S, et al., 2004. Study on sequence stratigraphy in Upper Sinian Series in mid-Yangtze area[J]. Journal of Chengdu University of Technology (Science & Technology Edition), 31(1): 53-58. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[32]	陈科, 翟刚毅, 包书景, 等, 2020. 华南黄陵隆起构造演化及其对页岩气保存的控制作用[J]. 中国地质, 47(1): 161-172.
[33]	陈科, 卢妍欣, 李飞, 等, 2024. 中上扬子地区陡山沱组沉积特征及其油气地质意义[J]. 中国地质调查, 11(5): 92-103.
[34]	陈科, 王昱荦, 卢妍欣, 等, 2025. 鄂西海槽下寒武统水井沱组沉积特征及其油气地质意义[J]. 地质力学学报, 31(4): 604-616. doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025036
[35]	丁一, 刘树根, 文龙, 等, 2025. 绵阳—长宁拉张槽东北缘埃迪卡拉系灯影组上部地层缺失及构造意义[J]. 地质学报, 99(2): 352-364.
[36]	单长安, 张廷山, 郭军杰, 等, 2015. 中扬子北部上震旦统陡山沱组地质特征及页岩气资源潜力分析[J]. 中国地质, 42(6): 1944-1958.
[37]	段金宝, 梅庆华, 李毕松, 等, 2019. 四川盆地震旦纪-早寒武世构造-沉积演化过程[J]. 地球科学, 44(3): 738-755.
[38]	郭露, 钟怡江, 张述鹏, 等, 2024. 克拉通内裂陷构造—沉积充填过程及其资源效应: 以中上扬子过渡带震旦系为例[J]. 沉积学报, 42(6): 2119-2134. doi: 10.14027/j.issn.1000-0550.2024.109
[39]	湖北省地质局三峡地层研究组, 1978. 峡东地区震旦纪至二迭纪地层古生物[M]. 北京: 地质出版社.
[40]	胡军, 2021. 华南神农架地区新元古代南沱组沉积古地理和古海洋环境研究[D]. 武汉: 中国地质大学.
[41]	胡军, 孙思远, 谷昊东, 等, 2021. 峡东南华系南沱组底部冰川底碛沉积特征及其意义[J]. 地球科学, 46(7): 2515-2528.
[42]	李文正, 张建勇, 李浩涵, 等, 2020. 鄂西—渝东地区克拉通内裂陷分布特征及油气勘探意义[J]. 天然气地球科学, 31(5): 675-685.
[43]	李忠权, 刘记, 李应, 等, 2015. 四川盆地震旦系—威远—安岳拉张侵蚀槽特征及形成演化[J]. 石油勘探与开发, 42(1): 26-33. doi: 10.11698/PED.2015.01.03
[44]	罗胜元, 苗凤彬, 张保民, 等, 2024. 宜昌地区灯影组深层丘滩相碳酸盐岩储层特征[J]. 地质论评, 70(S1): 293-296.
[45]	祁柯宁, 旷红伟, 柳永清, 等, 2024. 扬子西南缘滇中成冰系南沱组沉积特征及其上红层归属讨论[J]. 古地理学报, 26(6): 1305-1324. doi: 10.7605/gdlxb.2024.06.092
[46]	王传尚, 李旭兵, 白云山, 等, 2011. 湘西北地区震旦系斜坡相区层序地层划分与对比[J]. 地质通报, 30(10): 1538-1546. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-2552.2011.10.007
[47]	王红岩, 施振生, 赵群, 等, 2025. 上扬子地区下寒武统筇竹寺组地层特征及页岩气富集段分布[J]. 煤田地质与勘探, 53(03): 72-89. doi: 10.12363/issn.1001-1986.24.12.0765
[48]	王剑, 2000. 华南新元古代裂谷盆地演化: 兼论与Rodinia解体的关系[M]. 北京: 地质出版社: 146.
[49]	王剑, 崔晓庄, 王伟, 等, 2024. 华南古大陆演化及其资源环境效应: 从哥伦比亚到冈瓦纳[J]. 沉积学报, 42(6): 1849-1875.
[50]	汪泽成, 姜华, 王铜山, 等, 2014. 四川盆地桐湾期古地貌特征及成藏意义[J]. 石油勘探与开发, 41(3): 305-312.
[51]	汪泽成, 刘静江, 姜华, 等, 2019. 中—上扬子地区震旦纪陡山沱组沉积期岩相古地理及勘探意义[J]. 石油勘探与开发, 46(1): 39-51.
[52]	汪泽成, 姜华, 陈志勇, 等, 2020. 中上扬子地区晚震旦世构造古地理及油气地质意义[J]. 石油勘探与开发, 47(5): 884-897. doi: 10.11698/PED.2020.05.04
[53]	王自强, 高林志, 尹崇玉, 2001. 峡东地区震旦系层型剖面的界定与层序划分[J]. 地质论评, 47(5): 449-458. doi: 10.3321/j.issn:0371-5736.2001.05.001
[54]	杨瑞青, 杨风丽, 周晓峰, 等, 2019. 汉南—川东北灯影组古地理演化: 晚震旦世扬子西北缘拉张背景的沉积学证据[J]. 沉积学报, 2019, 37(1): 189-199.
[55]	赵文智, 魏国齐, 杨威, 等, 2017. 四川盆地万源—达州克拉通内裂陷的发现及勘探意义[J]. 石油勘探与开发, 44(5): 659-669. doi: 10.11698/PED.2017.05.01
[56]	周传明, 欧阳晴, 王伟, 等, 2021. 中国埃迪卡拉纪岩石地层划分和对比[J]. 地层学杂志, 45(3): 211-222.
[57]	周雁, 陈洪德, 王成善, 等, 2004. 中扬子区上震旦统层序地层研究[J]. 成都理工大学学报(自然科学版), 31(1): 53-58. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-9727.2004.01.009

Relative Articles

Supplements(0)

Cited By

Proportional views

Proportional views

Figures(15)

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Article Metrics

Article views (23) PDF downloads(16)